Using Jesus As our example

Racial Unity happens when we follow Jesus, our ultimate example. His life, teachings, and sacrificial love provide a blueprint for how we should live.

In Matthew 22:16, the Pharisees were plotting against Jesus and were going to try to trap Him in his words. In an attempt to appease Jesus, they say to Him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.” Little did they know they were providing a blueprint for the present day Church.

When it comes to racial unity, would those outside of the Church call us ”teacher?” Do they want to learn anything from us, or no? Does the world know that the Church teaches what is true? Do they sense that we are truthfully teaching God’s word? Or do they sense us teaching hypocritically, or teach non-Biblical things as if they’re biblical?

How about our interests? Would those outside of the church sense any personal agendas in our message? What about opinions? Do other’s opinions of us matter to the Church? Are we trying to make certain groups, or people, or “constituencies” happy with us, and are we trying to stay on their good side? Or does only the truth matter?

What about appearances? Are we swayed by appearance? Do we try to look good, while ignoring the bad? My former pastor Ed Carter used to say “the front of your suit looks good, but if you’ve split your pants, you’re just showing your hind parts.” Are we so busy trying to look good that we don’t realize our hind parts are showing?

It appears that the Church is not adequately using Jesus as its example of how to deal with the world, and specifically how to deal with racial unity. May we follow Jesus, the ultimate example, in these matters as we strive to bring the Church together.